This one couple's activity could help you both feel less stressed

If you and your partner would like to improve your relationship and reduce stress at the same time then science says there could be an easy solution: massage.

Yep, get your kneading hands at the ready, because a little massage time could be just what your love life needs.

Best of all, it's not just the person being massaged who receives the boost, as you'll both benefit from the activity, the Mail Online reports.

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Researchers from the University of Northumbria have discovered that just 15 minutes of massage two-to-three times per week gave couples significant improvements in relationship satisfaction, stress and wellbeing.

The team looked at 38 couples for the study, which will be presented at the British Psychological Society's Annual Conference.

The couples were instructed in massage and asked to carry out 15-minute sessions on each other twice a week for a period of three weeks. Partners were clothed during the sessions, and attention was focused on the back, neck, shoulders, hands and face.

Participants were also asked to self-assess on a number of factors, including emotional stress, mood and irritability.

And the results were pretty telling: those receiving the massage felt 12% better overall, while those doing the massaging also reported feeling 9% better.

Unsurprisingly, nine out of 10 of the couples involved said they would recommend mutual massage to others.

Study co-author Sayuri Naruse says, 'Many people have found that receiving massage is beneficial, but we found that giving had a similar effect.

'These findings show that massage can be a simple and effective way for couples to improve their physical and mental well-being while showing affection.'